California fine artist Brenda Lee Gibson discovered her passion for art at an early age. Her intuitive grandmother noticed her constant drawing and provided her with a steady stream of supplies. On Brenda’s twelfth birthday, her grandmother gave her a gift that would change her life: a paint by number oil painting kit. No longer confined to paper and pencils, Brenda was immediately seduced by the creamy texture and luminosity of oil paint.
Having taught secondary Art for 34 years in the local Rim School District, Dave’s personal journey in art really began with a visit to Santa Fe two decades ago discovering the versatility of pastel, and a technique to apply pastel over watercolor.
He loves the light of New Mexico, the hills of Tuscany, the coast of France, as well as the woods and meadows of Lake Arrowhead and New England. Working from personal photographs, the warm months in Lake Arrowhead and a shaded table on the deck, provides the perfect “outdoor studio”.
Moving to Lake Arrowhead when he was 13, Michael continued to develop his woodworking skills building things out of whatever he had. Honing his skills at the Art Institute, he began developing his own style using reclaimed materials including Wine Barrels. The Wine Barrel furniture became very popular with friends and family who in turn, encouraged him to sell his creations. "Often I see furniture that is poorly made and I think....I can make that so much better". Is a sentiment that motivates Michael to learn new skills and ultimately leads to new designs. He finds that Wine Barrels lend themselves to furniture design because of the ergonomic natural curve of each stave.
Local artist, Debi Schroth has been honing her skills as a muralist and decorative painter for 35 plus years. She has worked with private and corporate clients throughout California and across the United States. Transforming a space using illusionistic painting techniques ( trompe l ‘ oeil) has been her greatest challenge and joy. She works closely with her clients to carry out their vision.
Much like the way Manzanita branches are transformed by this process, my work with wood has been the most recent reinvention in my life. The first occurred when I decided to pursue a career in elementary education. The degree I had earned in Industrial Technology did not meet the requirements. I returned to school, received the appropriate credential, and that turn of events led to 35 fulfilling years as a teacher and administrator before retiring in 2010. That retirement gave me the opportunity to change, once again, and pursue creative endeavors that had been dormant during my working years...
Gary Glibbery was born in Surrey, England and moved with his family to Southern California when he was a child, where he was raised. He currently lives in Lake Arrowhead with his wife and daughter. His creative passion began in grade school with scratch built model boats. Continuing to hone his woodworking skills, he has earned awards for his Gloucesterman Schooner and Tugboat models, as well as Best of Show several times.
Julia Aubrey has taught herself to wood burn, carve and weave on gourds through the Internet and books, spending numerous hours on each piece. She uses acrylics, dyes, colored pencils, two part epoxy, beads, and materials found in nature to accent her art. Through the support and encouragement of clients and family she has grown her talent and hopes to continue for many years to come.
